A man wanted for issuing almost 20 bad checks across the Golden Triangle was arrested in Tupelo on Friday, according to a news release from 16th Circuit District Attorney Scott Colom’s office.
Steven Woodruff, an investigator with Colom’s office, said the DA’s office began investigating 44-year-old Jermaine Sanders’ case on Sept. 6, when a Starkville merchant informed authorities the suspect had purchased items using checks from a closed account. An arrest warrant was issued the same day.
According to the release, further investigation revealed Sanders has allegedly passed 19 worthless checks throughout the region. The bad checks have created more than $5,000 in losses for local merchants.
Tupelo Police Department arrested Sanders, of Woodland, Friday on suspicion of public drunkenness and providing false information. A Lee County Jail representative said Sanders was still in jail as of this morning and had been convicted of the misdemeanors in city court. She said he must serve 11 days in jail or pay a $50 fine to the municipal court.
Woodruff said Sanders will have to deal with his charges in Tupelo, and will then be brought to Oktibbeha County Jail on suspicion of felony false pretense. He said Sanders also faces a warrant from the Mississippi Department of Corrections for violating his parole.
While the investigation has uncovered 19 bad checks, Woodruff said it’s possible Sanders may have issued more.
“That’s just the ones we know about,” he said. “He’s been to parole for the exact same thing. He’s been to prison for doing the exact same thing.”
Alex Holloway was formerly a reporter with The Dispatch.
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